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'Earth Hour' in Ireland is being heralded as a success
after analysis released by EirGrid shows a reduction in electricity
use of about 1.5%.
Eirgrid, which runs the national grid, said that the reduction
- 50 megawatts of power - was enough to run 30,000 homes and
would cost customers €150,000.
Earth hour 2008 is a global campaign to get homes and businesses
around the world to reduce their electricity use and turn
off non-essential lights between 8pm and 9pm onMarch 29th,
to raise awareness about climate change (Click
Here).
Some of Dublin's landmark buildings - including the Customs
House, Four Courts, Aras an Uachtarain and Leinster House
- were plunged into darkness as the lights-out order went
through at 8pm on Saturday. Patrons in the Four Seasons restaurant
also dined by candlelight to mark Earth Hour.
More than two dozen cities and 300 towns across the globe
joined the movement, which asked that all non-essential lights
be turned off for an hour to highlight inefficient energy
use.
Cities across Australia took part in Earth Hour 2008, with
iconic buildings - including Sydney's Opera House and Harbour
Bridge to Melbourne's Flinders Street station - switching
their lights off at 8pm local time.
In Canada, the 553-metre CN Tower in Toronto and the surrounding
skyline were plunged into temporary darkness. In the United
States, landmarks such as San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge
and Chicago's Sears Tower went dark in the closing hours of
the event.
In Bangkok, Earth Hour saved 73.3 megawatts of electricity,
The lights were switched-off on six main roads and three of
the city's landmarks were also left in darkness - including
the Temple of Dawn, the Rama VIII bridge and Ratchadamnoen
Avenue.
In the southern New Zealand city Christchurch, energy distribution
company Orion said power consumption dropped 12.8 percent
during Earth Hour.
In Britain, The Prince of Wales' residence in Gloucestershire,
Highgrove House, and Winchester Cathedral were among those
plunged into darkness as part of Earth Hour.
As well as Dublin City Council, Galway and Limerick City
Councils - together with 15 town and county councils around
the country - gave their support to the initiative, but organisers
said that more businesses could have got involved.
Activists gathered outside the Customs House and cheered
as the lights went out - but next door, the lights in offices
of banks and brokerages in the IFSC blazed away, illuminating
floor after empty floor of desks and idling computers.
Lights underneath bridges across the River Liffey in Dublin
were turned-off, with civil servants told to turn off their
office lights and shut down computers when they left work
on Friday night.
"I'm delighted with the response" - Campaign Organiser for
Earth Hour Ireland, Cathy Flanagan said. "A 1.5pc reduction
in use of power is a considerable achievement. In a campaign
like this, there's no such thing as an effort too small. We
can all do what we can to tackle climate change.
"Just by switching-off all non-essential lights, we can help
make a difference. The lasting impact of EH's success is not
just what happened for one hour on Saturday night, it's what
we in Ireland do next to save energy and water, minimise waste
and maximise recycling. Small steps add up. Those who supported
Earth Hour should clap themselves on the shoulder for making
it such a big hit."
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